Lititz Run, Lancaster Co, 1/19/14

[sipe]

Two of us fished the Farm property (fly only) mostly between the two bridges. Only one fish was hooked, only one bite felt. One nice, fat brown (18"+.....not measured)hit a beaded IPW. We fished zebra midges, stonefly imitations, and various pheasant tail patterns with no luck.

Water was slightly high, and just a touch off color. No temp was taken but morning air temps ranged from 29-39*. Beautiful morning on new water for me. No other fishermen were present.

 

[3wt7X]

Nicely done, it is great to fish in solitude and to hook a brute of a brown during mid winter. Keep hitting the limestoners, and they will reward you greatly during the colder months, and keep the reports coming.

 

[wgmiller]

If the water was high, you were fishing in the best conditions. When it hits its "normal" flow or summer flow, the fish can be very challenging in the lower stretch.

 

[sipe]

Is there a trick to this stream that I'm not aware of or were my flies of choice pretty reliable here? Generally I blame the fisherman, not the fly...I assume that applies here as well.

 

[dc410]

From what I have learned, stream conditions are the wild card on this stream. I have caught some nice fish over the years, but getting my butt handed to me is more the norm on this stream. It is always a humbling experience and therefore not all bad.

 

[The_Sasquatch]

Look, LR is tough! Part of it is the fishermen, as there are some who seemed to have "cracked it" (Tim Robinsin rarely takes the skunk there, for example), but other elements play a role too. The FFO stretch can be marginal. This year was good to her. Good temps all summer long, good flows, the trout from "On the Fly" held over very well. It made all the difference. The years before, we had massive flooding events, very low flows, hot temps, and the only stocking the FFO stretch gets is for the tournament. I caught more fish there in the 3 or 4 times I fished it this year than I did in the last 5 years combined. Some years are good, some aren't. Not to mention the land owners feed the trout, so that works against those of us using "natural immitations".

Geo is right though, fish it after a major rain event. High water is the best there.

 

[wgmiller]

There are FAR more fish and the fishing is MUCH better in the Conservancy than the open water.

 

[sipe]

Am I correct that the conservancy requires a "membership" or a badge? How might one go about getting this?

 

[salmonoid]

sipe wrote:
Am I correct that the conservancy requires a "membership" or a badge? How might one go about getting this?

You are correct.

See http://www.fandm.edu/millportconservancy/fishing-at-millport for more info.

 

[geebee]

I understood you have to join Donegal TU and the get a badge for $30 or so.

those are all stocked fish or a mix ?

 

[The_Sasquatch]

Stocked, many hold over and I've seen pictures of some of the bows and they're absolutely beautiful.